Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 1, 1931.

H. B. HULL REFRI GERATING APPARATUS INV NTOR Q7 ,a-

ggww/ /Mww/L /7//5 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. l, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY B. HULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASIGNOB 'lO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, `OF

DAYTON, OB'IO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE nnrmennarme manarus Application led April 30, 1930. Serial No. 448,553.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type.

For one of its objects, this invention contemplates employing, in absorption refrigeratlng apparatus, an lmproved method lof removlng or carrying away the exhaust fuel gases from the vicinlty of the generator.

A further object o f this invention is to provide a positive forcing or -suction means Y for positively withdrawing or carrying away the exhaust fuel gases fromthe vicmity o'fl the generator. More specifically, to provide such a positive forcing or suction means that will be operated by forces incident to the successful operation of the apparatus. I A

A still further object of this invention is to remove the exhaust fuel gases `from the vicinity of the generator by means of instrumentalities operated by the flow of cooling water to or from the condenser.

Further objects `and advantages of the present invention will 'be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanymg drawing, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing: The figure is a view in vertical section a@ through a refrigerator cabinet employing apparatus embodying features of my invention,

In the use of refrigerator cabinets mechanically cooled by means of absorption refrigerating apparatus in which the generator or the generator-absorber is heated by means of a combustible fuel, the cabinets must generally be placed, either in the household or in public stores or the like, where the exhaust gases are obnoxious. This invention has par- 40' ticular reference to a' method of and apparatus for removing the noxious gases from the vicinity of the refrigerating apparatus.

To illustrate one use of my improved method ,l and apparatus, I have disclosed a refrig-v erator cabinet in the form of an ice cream cabinet 10 having a refrigerated compartment 11 and a machine compartment 12. The refrigerated compartment includes a brine tank 13, surrounded by the insulating walls 5.0 14 and provided with one orfmore sleeves l5 for the reception of the commodities to be cooled, such as, for example, a can of ice cream. The refrigerated compartment 11 is cooled by an absorption refrigerating machine includingthe evaporator E located within the brine tank 13, and connected by means of a conduit 20 to the generator-absorbercondenser apparatus generally indicated by thereference character 21.'

The generator-absorber-condenser unit may be of any known construction. In this particular case, a unitsimilar to that disclosed in the application of Harry F.' Smith, Serial No. 392,341, has been disclosed, mere,- ly for the purpose of illustrating the inven- 05 tion. It includes'a cylindrical container 32, forming the generator-absorber proper and containing a quantity of solid material capable of absorbing and liberating large quantities of a refrigerant gas under varying de- 'grees of temperature. A bleeder tube 33 passes down through the middle of the container 32 and is provided with a plurality of perforations throughout its length for the passage of refrigerant gas from the bleeder tube into the absorbent material, and from the absorbent material into the bleeder tube. One end of the bleeder tube 33 is connected by means of a conduit, not shown, to a condenser conduit located within the condenser C, the 3 condenser conduit being in turn connected by means of' a conduit 35 to the conduit 20, said connection being made through a controlling device K, which will be described hereinafter.

The generator 32, in this particular modi- 35 fication, is heatedby means of the so-called vaporvheating system. This vapor heating System includes la cylindrical container 36 surrounding and spaced from the generator j container 32, forming a jacket 34, which jacket communicates at its up er end, through a conduit 37, controlling device K,

' and conduit 38 with a second condenser conduit also enclosed within the condenser C. A conduit 39, communicates with the other end of this second condenser conduit and with the lower end of the jacket 34 thereby forming a closed circuit for a volatile liquidcontained within the container 36. Surrounding the container 36, and spaced therefrom, to form .'conducting the exhaust fuel gases from the;

a jacket 39 is a third container 40 which `forms the housing for the generator-absorbvicinity of the -generator absorber. Atits lower end the said space communicates with the container secured to the outer container 40y by bolts 41 and vin which is located a fuel supply burner 66, the' supply .of fuel thereto being controlled-by means of the controlling device K, hereinafter described.

' Cooling water for the condenser enters the system' through the conduit 50 and, passing through condenser C, flows through the controlling device K and leaves the system through the conduit 46 which, as shown, discharges into the flue 44. -The flue 44 'at the j point where the conduit 46 discharges thereinto is provided with`a restriction forming in effect a Venturi or suction nozzle 76, operative to withdraw the 'exhaust gases from the jacket 39 through-theilue 44.

It should be noted that the apparatus is rendered entirely automatic -and safe vby means of the controllerK. This controller has not been disclosed in detail. It may be said however, that it may contain mechanism, as disclosed inthe aforesaid application ofA Harry F. Smith, Serial No. 392.341, for controlling the supply of fuel to the burner in response to conditions within` the vapor heating system and to this end, 4,the vapor heating circuit has a portion passing through said` controller, as for instance, the connection between the conduits 37 and 38. This control of the fuel supply may also depend uponthe flow of cooling .water to the condenser which in this apparatus isdesigned to {iow continuously during bothabsorbing and generating periods.

During the absorbingA period, the vaporheating system becomes a cooling system, the -heat of absorption being taken up by the volatile liquid in the jacket 34 and dissipated to the cooling water flowing through the condenser C, the rate of `flow being governed by the pressure within the conduits 20 and 35.

In operation, during `the heating cycle, gaseous or'y other combustible fuel flows to the burner 66 under the control of the controlling device K. During this period, the circulation. of volatile v liquid within vthe vapor-heating `circuit is prevented. Heat being applied to the ij-'acke`t-.34causes the volatile liquid in jacket 34 to WWorize, andfcondense on the sides ofthe lgenerator 32%` thus heating the said generatori.

Water is flowing through the' condenser, and emerging' through the conduit 4.6 exhausts into ltheflue 44 at the Ventur-rnoznozzle and causing the exhaust fuel gases to be withdrawn through the flue 44 to be discharged to waste. A

Thus the exhaust, obnoxious gases are removed from the Vicinity of the generator.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a 'burner for heating said generator, the 1m- 'g proved method which'comprises, heating the generator by burning a combustible fuel,

coolingthe condenser by circulating'a cooling medium in heat exchange relation therewith, and withdrawing 'the exhaust gases from the vicinity of said genjerator'by the suction action of the cooling liquid fiowing.-

away from said condenser.

2. Refrigerating :apparatus including -al generator, a container surrounding and spaced from said generator to form| a jacket, a fuel su ply burner for heating said generator, said burner communicating with the`v lower'end of said jacket, a condenser including a conduit for acooling fluid in heat exchange relation with said condenser, said conduit. being provided with a' restricted passage forming a Venturi nozzle, and a second conduit communicating with the upper end of said jacket and with said first named conduit adjacent the Venturi nozzle1 whereby the exhaust fuel gases may be withdrawn from said jacket by the cooling fluidA passing through said first named conduit.

3. Refrigerating apparatus including a generator, a fuel supply burner for heating said generator, a condenser connected to said enerator, means for cooling said condenser including a conduit in heat exchange relation with said condenser, said conduit being provided with a Venturi nozzle and means comnrunicating with said Venturi nozzle for removing the exhaust fuel gases from the generator.

4. Refrigerating apparatus including a generator, a container spaced from and surrounding said generator, and forming a exchange relation with said condenser, said conduit discharging into said flue substantially as described. j

In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature.

- HARRY B. HULL.

zle 46, thereby lowering the pressure at-the 

